Thanks to all the technological advancements made in the field of medicine, patients today have access to so many treatment options that would not have been available to them in the last few decades. One such option is the use of a transvaginal mesh to strengthen and replace the suppleness of the tissue in the vaginal wall.

Through a surgical procedure, patients can be implanted with this special patch to help keep the organs in the lower abdomen in place. Certain physical strains can affect the ability of pelvic muscles to provide support for organs like the urethra and bladder. When this happens, having a transvaginal mesh implant can be a crucial step in controlling complications like stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Receiving a transvaginal mesh entails a procedure where the patient will have a porous and synthetic surgical patch implanted into the lower abdomen. This is typically considered a low-risk surgery and offers a great alternative for women who would not want to undergo a hysterectomy and other similarly invasive procedures.

Unfortunately, new developments show that the benefits provided by a transvaginal mesh implant might be quickly eclipsed by certain complications. In recent years, researchers have found that the use of a transvaginal mesh can lead to many serious side effects like fistulas, infection, and urinary retention. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement in 2011 through the Center for Devices and Radiological Health pointing to these very concerns. According to their analysis, there seems to be “clear risks associated with the transvaginal placement of mesh to treat POP.” A recent vaginal mesh lawsuit made against manufacturer Endo Health Solution that ended in a settlement of up to $55 million.

The use of a transvaginal mesh can provide plenty of relief for a patient suffering from the symptoms of conditions like SUI and POP. However, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the medical device in question can also cause a host of terrifying symptoms that might make a patient’s suffering even greater. As it is, it’s clear that there’s still plenty of room for improvement before patients can totally benefit from the said device.